Last Modified: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 4:09 p.m.

Photo Galleries

Dave Anness and his wife, Sandra, have owned Dancing Waters Water Wonderlands & Fantasy Gardens for six years. The National Wildlife Federation allows people to certify their property as a wildlife habitat in commercial and residential areas if the property provides four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive — food, water, cover and a place to raise young.

Dave Anness, a 73-year-old retired chef, has been clearing the property in hopes of opening it up for the public to enjoy.

“It was a dream that came to me,” he said. “I want this to be something the community can enjoy.”

He has used imagination and inspiration to create nature trails and plans to add meditation gardens, a labyrinth to honor fallen soldiers, ponds, sitting areas and more.

“This is an ideal place for people to enjoy nature,” he said about the wildlife habitat, which was certified by the NWF about three years ago.

In the meantime, customers have the opportunity to visit Dancing Waters for their water feature needs. Dancing Waters, at 4016 Brevard Road outside Hendersonville, offers pond maintenance and supplies, water treatment, water plants, fish and more.

Dave Anness said he loves what he's doing. He cleared most of the property's thick foliage with a machete and in the first year, discovered a hidden treasure near the banks of Battle Creek — the passenger compartment of an old yellow school bus with a license plate from 1957.

“I don't know where it came from, but I just store stuff in it now,” he said, adding that he would like to turn the relic into a feature on the property.

“I just love the outdoors,” Dave Anness said as he pulled away some of the brush to peek into the bus.

He's delighted to restore the area despite financial and natural setbacks on the floodplain.

“It has been a lot of work,” he said. “There are other people who have done a lot more, but we are really proud of what we have here.”

For more information, visit www.dancingwatergardens.com or call 828-243-6918 or 828-243-3354.

<p>HORSE SHOE — Motorists may not realize they are passing a 3.5-acre wildlife habitat as they travel through Horse Shoe on U.S. Highway 64. </p><p>Dave Anness and his wife, Sandra, have owned Dancing Waters Water Wonderlands & Fantasy Gardens for six years. The National Wildlife Federation allows people to certify their property as a wildlife habitat in commercial and residential areas if the property provides four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive — food, water, cover and a place to raise young.</p><p>Dave Anness, a 73-year-old retired chef, has been clearing the property in hopes of opening it up for the public to enjoy.</p><p>“It was a dream that came to me,” he said. “I want this to be something the community can enjoy.”</p><p>He has used imagination and inspiration to create nature trails and plans to add meditation gardens, a labyrinth to honor fallen soldiers, ponds, sitting areas and more.</p><p>“This is an ideal place for people to enjoy nature,” he said about the wildlife habitat, which was certified by the NWF about three years ago.</p><p>In the meantime, customers have the opportunity to visit Dancing Waters for their water feature needs. Dancing Waters, at 4016 Brevard Road outside Hendersonville, offers pond maintenance and supplies, water treatment, water plants, fish and more.</p><p>Dave Anness said he loves what he's doing. He cleared most of the property's thick foliage with a machete and in the first year, discovered a hidden treasure near the banks of Battle Creek — the passenger compartment of an old yellow school bus with a license plate from 1957.</p><p>“I don't know where it came from, but I just store stuff in it now,” he said, adding that he would like to turn the relic into a feature on the property.</p><p>“I just love the outdoors,” Dave Anness said as he pulled away some of the brush to peek into the bus.</p><p>He's delighted to restore the area despite financial and natural setbacks on the floodplain. </p><p>“It has been a lot of work,” he said. “There are other people who have done a lot more, but we are really proud of what we have here.”</p><p>For more information, visit www.dancingwatergardens.com or call 828-243-6918 or 828-243-3354.</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.</p>